02/22 - What You Need Is What You Have

I have had a surprisingly pleasant start of the year. Working less, ticking things off my to-do-list at home, and spending lots of time out on the cliffs. Here's to calm January weeks:

 

Garth Stevenson - Flying

I still set my alarm, because I don't want to miss sunrise. I stay in bed for a few minutes, watching the sky pinken and a few gulls maneuvering past through the window. On a clear, calm day the sky's gradient from dark blue to warm orange is mirrored perfectly in the seascape I can see from my living room. Cormorants dart by.

upsammy - Growing Out of the Plastic Box

Once out, the tweets from blue tits and house sparrows mix with the conversational hums and haws from a dozen or so eiders floating in the strait where the little ferry chugs back and forth. The east side of the island is where the day bustles forth, with morning commuters, cats and magpies crossing paths on the carless streets.

Daniel Herskedal - The Mistral Noir

From the south tip you can see far, across where the river mouth opens up the way to the city, and international ferries, container ships and the occasional military boat make their way out towards Kattegatt. Closer by, porpoises and seals cleave the surface in soft, leisurely arches. Their movements, in contrast to the motorboats', translate like gentle waves via the optical nerve and on through the body.

Cucina Povera - Muna Muuttaa

The west side of the island is the rugged wild face. Here I am left to myself with my coffee and the wren darting hither and thither across my path. When two roe deer startle and leap up a ravine I stop still and soon after we are all standing watchign each other in a tense moment of recognition. The wren breaks the silence with a rattling trill, the deer continue on up the rocks and a murder of crows noisily take to the air as a sparrowhawk glides by. Everything is in wordless communication.

Hand Habits - Control

Back inside language ensnares me once more with its linear prejudice and prompts to get on with the day, with the ambitions, with life. But I'm not treading water. I'm just moving slowly, deliberately. 

I can change, I can change, I can change...

 

01/22 - Turn The Oscillator!

Ok, ok, ok! Here we gooooo! Another year, another top 5! Let's hit the ground running (two weeks late) with some rrrrrrock!

 

The White Stripes - Hello Operator

Never a bad time to rediscover early White Stripes. Sonic economy, pregnant pauses and an oh so satisfying harmonica solo to top it off

Mötley Crüe - Too Fast For Love

Well, here's a band I can't claim to be a conoisseur of. I've never been very interested in this type of tetosterone- and trema-laden classic rock. But at some point, for some party or the like, someone has downloaded this track to my iTunes, and well, there's no denying its riff-heavy, bouncy appeal. 2021 was too fast love, let's see if 2022 is too.

Bob Dylan - Obviously Five Believers

The thin wild mercury sound at its most unleashed never gets old.

Fifteen jugglers

Five believers

All dressed like men

Tell your mama not to worry because

They're just my friends

Hey Colossus - Tied In A Firing Line

An epic, rumbling build-up with a fantastic payoff five minutes in. I would very much like to see this band live, please.

Cleo Sol - 23

I have started to go through the Best of 2021 lists. Lots of discoveries to look forward to. This a lovely little closer with 60s girl group-vibes I found among Pitchfork's 100 tracks.